The Criterion Collection

[italy12]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Wasn't me. Did see a rumor about it somewhere though.

EDIT: It was from the Facebook page, I went back and checked. But it wasn't conclusive. If there is an Oscar-themed sale, it should include a number of Criterions (Rashomon, 8 1/2, Bicycle Thieves, Fanny & Alexander, The Tin Drum, et al).

Criterion Oscar Winners

Amarcord should be part of that sale then. Too bad Harvey Milk & Topsy Turvy come out in March...

[italy12]

Noticed this on the DVDBeaver review page for "Sweet Smell":

Blu-ray Release Date: February 22nd, 2011
Transparent Blu-ray case

I wonder if the pic on fb that was posted a while ago was of a slipbox, a la Videodrome, rather than a digipack, a la Breathless.

Either way, that cover is one of their best of the newer releases!

[Gamma_Winstead]

Just watched my copy of The Thin Red Line. Incredible disk.

[italy12]

Which site shows pics of the CC's packaging?

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by italy12

Which site shows pics of the CC's packaging?

http://www.criterionforum.org/ but it doesn't have it yet.

[Pyoko]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Sweet Smell:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...dvd_review.htm

Magnificent, how I wish every Blu-ray could get a new transfer instead of recycling the old DVD master. I will probably put Sweet Smell on my 'wait for a sale' list though, and cancel Amarcord as well for now (don't want it shipping at the same time as Still Walking anyway, for customs purposes). I missed out on the last B&N sale because I had already ordered more or less everything I wanted from Amazon.

[insomniac013]

Is 'Seven Samurai' worth a blind-45 bucks-buy?

[octagon]

Originally Posted by insomniac013

Is 'Seven Samurai' worth a blind-45 bucks-buy?

Short answer? Probably.

It's a great movie in all senses of the word. Significant films aren't always fun to watch and enjoyable movies aren't always (or even usually) all that important but this one is definitely both.

It's a really interesting story (which was lifted almost scene for scene by The Magnificent Seven), the performances are stellar, the direction and production are as good as it gets (or arguably have ever gotten) and the restoration is simply fantastic.

So why only 'probably'?

It's a three hour long, black-and-white, sub-titled samurai movie.

Any one of those raises 'ymmv' flags.

(btw it's only $37.49 at Amazon right now)

(btw 2: the box and booklet are pretty freaking cool too)

[ChinaMan]

Originally Posted by octagon

(btw it's only $37.49 at Amazon right now)

He's in Denmark, that's why it's probably around $45 for him.

I just purchased Seven Samurai and cannot wait to watch it

Your comments on it makes me look forward to watching it as well!

[insomniac013]

Originally Posted by octagon

So why only 'probably'?

It's a three hour long, black-and-white, sub-titled samurai movie.

Any one of those raises 'ymmv' flags.

(btw it's only $37.49 at Amazon right now)

(btw 2: the box and booklet are pretty freaking cool too)

Thank you for the generous response!
Like the poster above mentions, i live in Denmark so my only option is importing. On Axelmusic.com (great site) i can get it for 45 dollars (250 DKK) shipped! I've always wanted to watch Akira's movie, but i just never got around to... like you said its really long and in Japanese. Then again, it is #10 on IMDB so it should be pretty good! I will buy it, i feel like broadening my horizon and check out some deep and significant pictures, rather than all the crazy 'Hong Kong action movies 'i've been watching lately... Plus i'm a sucker for awesome packaging and extras!

I just got a 'Region A' Blu Ray player so i'm dying to get some of those amazing Region Locked Blu Rays (and DVD's) you guys have. Like Criterion, which supposedly produces some of the best

[s00perd00per]

Originally Posted by insomniac013

Thank you for the generous response!
Like the poster above mentions, i live in Denmark so my only option is importing. On Axelmusic.com (great site) i can get it for 45 dollars (250 DKK) shipped! I've always wanted to watch Akira's movie, but i just never got around to... like you said its really long and in Chinese. Then again, it is #10 on IMDB so it should be pretty good! I will buy it, i feel like broadening my horizon and check out some deep and significant pictures, rather than all the crazy 'Hong Kong action movies 'i've been watching lately... Plus i'm a sucker for awesome packaging and extras!

I just got a 'Region A' Blu Ray player so i'm dying to get some of those amazing Region Locked Blu Rays (and DVD's) you guys have. Like Criterion, which supposedly produces some of the best

It's Japanese.

[Bageara]

I didnt think this film would have been watched by anyone outside of the UK

[ShellOilJunior]

UPS has been on the ball.

Veronique came yesterday--- as did All About Eve, An Affair to Remember and Ray (all one day early).

[insomniac013]

Originally Posted by s00perd00per

It's Japanese.

Yes, Japanese! Tha-That's what i meant

[italy12]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

http://www.criterionforum.org/ but it doesn't have it yet.

Thanks...I'll just bookmark it anyway. I like looking at the pics and wishing I had what they get early

[italy12]

Question re: Broadcast News audio...

I just got my B&N package of Broadcast News delivered to my job (can't wait 'til I get home anymore), and on the back, the audio is listed as 2.0 Surround.

What exactly is 2.0 Surround? I never saw it on a CC BD before, and really never saw it on any other BD for that matter.

I don't know if I even have a setting on my receiver, besides "DIRECT" that would make it work. Dolby Pro Logic II??

EDIT: The booklet says, in the "About the Transfer" section, that you need to put your receiver in Dolby Pro Logic mode to hear it correctly. Nice job Criterion!!

On the next page, Wes Anderson is thanked!!

[KenHurd]

2.0 Surround means the audio will only play out of two speakers, the front right and front left. In Direct mode, your receiver will play it exactly as it's intended to be played. In Dolby Pro Logic II, the receiver will give it a 5.1 or 7.1, depending on your system setup, to give the film a surround sound mix.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by KenHurd

2.0 Surround means the audio will only play out of two speakers, the front right and front left. In Direct mode, your receiver will play it exactly as it's intended to be played. In Dolby Pro Logic II, the receiver will give it a 5.1 or 7.1, depending on your system setup, to give the film a surround sound mix.

Well, I thought the Dolby Pro Logic setting would take a 2.0 soundtrack, and if it was indeed encoded as 2.0 surround, turn it into 4.0 (left, center, right, and a mono surround track), whereas a receiver with no Pro Logic capabilities would just output L/R stereo sound.

I wasn't entirely sure that the Pro Logic function was what I would need, until I saw it in the booklet.

PL II is the one that will take it and turn it into 5.1, and IIx will do 6.1 or 7.1.

I forget if my receiver has PL II or PL. I think it is PLII, so I will try the Direct mode to get it to play what was intended.

[sleepy]

Originally Posted by insomniac013

I will buy it, i feel like broadening my horizon and check out some deep and significant pictures, rather than all the crazy 'Hong Kong action movies 'i've been watching lately... Plus i'm a sucker for awesome packaging and extras!

Just because a movie is released by Criterion doesn't mean it's an arty and a deep film. Seven Samurai is actually a really, really enjoyable and entertaning movie! Mifune's character, Kikuchiyo is especially fun to watch.

So uh, what I'm saying is: buy Seven Samurai. The transfer is beautiful and it's a fantastic release in pretty much every way. But don't expect a movie to be something "special" just because it is released by Criterion. What you should expect is a great release of a great and fun movie.

[myka22]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

For what it's worth, I watched this film on Netflix Watch Instantly recently and while it was definitely not Criterion's transfer, it most certainly was not dubbed either.

Cool I didn't realize it was available on instant watch, I added it to my queue.